For the record, I did not come up with that title. Tom Letts did as he was trying to help those of us gathered at last night's 7:07 service understand the Parable of the Sower, which doesn't sound nearly as compelling as the Parable of God Doesn't Nag, but, whatever.
In two weeks of diving into the inner workings of Jesus' methods of reaching the curious crowds, I am amazed at his ability to tell us what we need to hear in a way that makes us in charge of our own selves. In fact, the whole parable repeats the importance of recognizing what Jesus is trying to say about God's desire for relationship with us, the independent masses who always think we can do things ourselves.
We learned the purpose of a parable is to make us stay when everyone else leaves, and ask questions. Jesus doesn't give us the answer on purpose, knowing that if we want a relationship of deep intimacy with God, it is we who need to take the first step toward Him. Thus the "nag" part. If I don't nag my son to get ready in the morning, who ultimately wins once he figures out going to school without breakfast, or in his PJ's, isn't so fun? I'll wait it out. God will, too.
God tells us what we should do, based upon obedience and authority, as we learned in the morning service. But He doesn't make us do it, because of our own brokenness. We decide when we shall come to Him from rocky ground, in turmoil, finally realizing that asking questions when scattered blindly across the stones is the only way toward true understanding. It is our choice entirely to get up and walk away from the rocky ground, to sit somewhere else and listen, then ask How and What instead of Why.
Interesting last night when we were encouraged to ask questions of the parable, silence reigned for more than a few moments. Were we afraid?
Stay. Ask. God will wait for you to show up. In fact, He really, really wants you to. No need to be afraid.
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